Former high-ranking officials are voicing support for the recent trips made by Matthias Platzeck, the former chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), to Russia. Alexander Gauland, honorary chairman of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, told the Tagesspiegel newspaper that he “finds it good and right” that Platzeck continues to regularly visit Russia and engage in discussions there, expressing an inability to understand the outrage surrounding these journeys.
Gauland emphasized Platzeck’s extensive political knowledge, stemming from his previous role as Minister President of Brandenburg and his longstanding involvement as chairman of the German-Russian Forum. He characterized Platzeck as an “experienced, knowledgeable and committed actor in German-Russian relations” for many years and highlighted the necessity of diplomatic engagement during what he described as “politically difficult times”. Gauland stated Platzeck’s efforts are aimed at understanding the opposing perspective without adopting it. He further asserted that, given his past involvement with the German-Russian Forum, Platzeck effectively functions as a diplomat, albeit operating outside of official government capacity. Gauland also reiterated Platzeck’s consistent view that Russia is a significant neighbor of Germany and that maintaining amicable relations is beneficial for Germany.
Support for Platzeck’s travels similarly comes from Sahra Wagenknecht, the chairwoman of the eponymous BSW party. She urged for greater willingness to allow such dialogues, stating that there are “not too many, but too few” German politicians striving to maintain communication channels with Russia. Wagenknecht emphasized the value of continuing conversations, contrasting it with the perceived normalcy of such interactions for U.S. diplomats, while underscoring its increased importance for Germany given its dependence on Russian energy and raw materials. She directly challenged Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) to undertake a visit to Russian President Vladimir Putin, suggesting such a meeting, particularly following a recent meeting in Washington with Donald Trump, would be advisable, even for those seeking peace in Ukraine.
Reports from Spiegel, the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung and the Russian opposition platform The Insider, citing eyewitness accounts, detailed that Platzeck has made nine trips to Russia since the end of 2022. Platzeck himself told the Tagesspiegel that his motivation is to ensure existing contacts are not severed and that he is exploring pathways towards a potential resolution of the ongoing conflict, acknowledging that active diplomacy at various levels is vital for Germany’s defense capabilities.
